Only 12pc population of country is paying tax: Hafeez Shaikh

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh has said that the government has inherited a debt of Rs31, 000 billion, when it came into power after winning 2018 General Elections.

﻿
In a post-budget press conference, he said that the country is going through a tough phase. “The government is taking fresh loans to pay interest of the old loans taken by the past rulers”.

On the budget, Shaikh said that the elite class of the country will have to show support to the country as the rich in the region pay more taxes than the elite in Pakistan do.

Only 12 pc of the country’s populace is paying its due tax, which is recorded as one of the lowest levels in the world, he maintained.

He said the government is only giving Rs 1100bn to Army to fulfill its defence needs as they voluntarily announced to curtail their budget amid to crunch financial condition of the country.

Mr Shaikh said the government is paying special heed to the poor and middle-class section of the society. He said electricity tariff will remain unchanged for the consumers who fall under the slab of 300 units.